city, southwestern Śląskie województwo (province), southern Poland, on the Nacyna River. Situated in a sub-Carpathian valley in a forested area of the Upper Silesian coalfields, Rybnik has coal mining, metalworks, and several vocational schools.

Beginning as a fishing village in the 10th century, Rybnik became capital of the Racibórz principality in 1282. It was granted municipal rights in the 13th century and became part of Bohemia in 1532. Seized by Prussia in 1742, it was returned to Poland in 1921. Pop. (2002) 142,731.